Abstract: A shallow container for culturing organisms includes a holder defining a cavity and a separate lid to close off the cavity. The lid includes a transparent window portion to be arranged above the cavity when the lid closes off the cavity. The window portion includes an upper surface and a lower surface extending parallel to each other; where the cavity is filled with a matrix having a reflective top surface on which an organism to be cultured can be received, and where in at least one position of the lid with respect to the holder, in which the lid closes off the cavity, the top surface of the matrix extends non-parallel to the upper and lower surfaces of the window portion.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluorescence microscope and a method for using this to measure fluorescence. The microscope comprises a silicon wafer filter membrane which is highly-planar and does not fluoresce. Moreover, it has a very high perforation density, so that a small surface area is sufficient for effective measurement. Using a camera as the location-sensitive detector moreover makes it possible to take advantage of better optical resolution, which means that optics having a smaller numerical aperture and a smaller magnification factor can be employed, with a greater working distance. All these factors together provide a fluorescence microscope capable of much more rapid measurements than the existing fluorescence microscopes.

Abstract: The invention provides a fluorescence microscope and a method for using this to measure fluorescence. The microscope comprises a silicon wafer filter membrane which is highly-planar and does not fluoresce. Moreover, it has a very high perforation density, so that a small surface area is sufficient for effective measurement. Using a camera as the location-sensitive detector moreover makes it possible to take advantage of better optical resolution, which means that optics having a smaller numerical aperture and a smaller magnification factor can be employed, with a greater working distance. All these factors together provide a fluorescence microscope capable of much more rapid measurements than the existing fluorescence microscopes.